Sharapova included in Russia´s Olympic squad

Maria Sharapova will be included in Russia’s tennis team for the Rio 2016 Olympics despite currently serving a suspension for failing a drugs test.

The five-time grand slam champion was provisionally banned by the International Tennis Federation in March after testing positive for meldonium at the Australian Open.

Sharapova – who took silver at London 2012 – said she had been taking the substance for 10 years due to health reason and was unaware it had been added to WADA’s list of prohibited substances on January 1.

The 29-year-old is not expected to learn whether she will be handed a longer ban until next month, but Shamil Tarpischev – the head of Russia’s tennis federation – confirmed she remained in their Olympic plans.

“We will include Sharapova in the team, which we need to announce by June 6,” Tarpischev told R-Sport.

“By the end of the first week of Roland Garros, the question of Sharapova’s participation at the Olympic Games should be resolved.”